Poultry & Meat Buying Tips | Viking Village Foods, Reedsburg, WI

OTHER MEATS

Some other meats to consider when meat buying that generally are lean includes: bison (a.k.a. buffalo), venison (deer or antelope), goat, emu, and ostrich. With poultry, the white meat (breast) is leanest, but not if you eat the skin, which contributes as much as 75 percent of the fat and 50 percent of the calories in a piece of chicken.

MEAT LABELS

Special labels can be confusing. They only mean what they say and in some instances even that is open to interpretation. Here are some definitions but, keep in mind that these labels are no indication that something is more nutritious or safer from contamination than products without any labels.

Certified Organic

Meat and poultry must meet specific requirements – which include no use of antibiotics, hormones, pesticides or any biotechnology.  Organically raised cattle must be allowed to pasture-graze at least one-third of the year. Meat raised in this way supports more sustainable methods of food production. But, there is no requirement that animals be slaughtered more humanely.

Free-Range

To be called free-range, chickens must be given some access to an area outside, although the amount of time and space or even if the birds actually go outside is not regulated. There is no such definition for cattle or any other animals, so this claim on a piece of beef or pork is meaningless and has no verification.

Grass-Fed

Means no grain and animals must have continuous access to pasture during the growing season and hay and silage, are allowed at other times. The “USDA Process Verified” shield ensures that the meat meets standards for “grass-fed” and that they were not grain-finished. However antibiotics and hormones may be given.

Kosher or Halal

It means products, including meat and poultry are prepared according to specific religious laws or under religious supervision.  The label does not mean that the foods have more flavor, are more nutritious, or safer, though many people think they are.

Natural

To be considered natural, products contain no artificial ingredients or added color and were minimally processed. This does not have anything to do with how an animal was raised, however.

No Antibiotics

This label is allowed on meat and poultry products if the producer can provide documentation that no antibiotics were used in raising the animals to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) .

No Hormones

To be allowed on beef the producer must provide documentation to the USDA that no hormones were used in raising the animals. The label is allowed on pork and poultry only if it also states that regulations do not allow hormone use in turkey, chickens, or hogs anyway.

BONE IN OR BONELESS

This is a matter of preference. Bones can help radiate the heat through your meat which results in a quicker cook time and many believe the bone creates a more intense flavor. Cuts with the bone in are also usually cheaper per pound. Meat without the bone on the other hand, requires no extra step of trimming the meat from the bone.